Are Transports Obsolete?

It surprises me in this day and age that transports continue to be developed, and presumably sold. I know this has at least been in part to the physical media aspects of spinning one's CD library. Also, Transports, particularly of the cost no object variety, can be more 'sexy' than servers.

We 'know' that server technology has, for all intents and purposes, eclipsed transports in the last few years, but the best of the best transports continue to garner enthusiasm if not raves from some reviewers that I really respect.

Are there any out there that, having bought a server, have recently been drawn back or towards the world of transports?
What is your server and why and what transports have you or are you reconsidering?

 

No he just kept his EMM Labs combination player for sacd and used his MBL dac and transport for redbook. I think your EMM Labs uses the Esoteric combi drive. How does it compare to the modded Oppo ?

That's not a fair comparison - the TX2 is a $25k transport with a top PC and HRS isolation platform linked to my DA2 via ST fiber.

My point was that the Oppo with a good LPS is not necessarily outperformed by dedicated transports in the $1k to $3k range. Certainly if you have the budget you can find a transport that significantly outperforms the Oppo but no one (sane) cross shops $1k and $25k transports.

 

That's not a fair comparison - the TX2 is a $25k transport with a top PC and HRS isolation platform linked to my DA2 via ST fiber.

My point was that the Oppo with a good LPS is not necessarily outperformed by dedicated transports in the $1k to $3k range. Certainly if you have the budget you can find a transport that significantly outperforms the Oppo but no one (sane) cross shops $1k and $25k transports.

Hey i never claimed to be sane ! My comparisons have been with the drive sections of older standalone redbook players using Phillips pro and JVC pro toploading mechanisms. I wanted to like the Oppo i bought it, but i don’t even like it as backup player. But the sound from the internal Netflix player is excellent, and i use it for that every day, something they left out in the latest models. The Tidal streaming from my model sucks to. All just my opinion of course

 

Hey i never claimed to be sane ! My comparisons have been with the drive sections of older standalone redbook players using Phillips pro and JVC pro toploading mechanisms. I wanted to like the Oppo i bought it, but i don’t even like it as backup player. But the sound from the internal Netflix player is excellent, and i use it for that every day, something they left out in the latest models. The Tidal streaming from my model sucks to. All just my opinion of course

I would encourage you to try a LPS before giving up. It doesn't have to be crazy expensive - one of the $150-$200 zerozone units from China on ebay is all you need. The oppo also significantly benefits from isolation and a quality PC.

 

I would encourage you to try a LPS before giving up. It doesn't have to be crazy expensive - one of the $150-$200 zerozone units from China on ebay is all you need. The oppo also significantly benefits from isolation and a quality PC.

I would not say i have given up, i have 3 good top loaders on hand when i play redbook, and 90% of my listening is analog anyway. The Oppo is good for burning in cables too, sometimes i leave it running on repeat for days. But i will try a LPS, it will probably improve the sound from Netflix too. Thanks you for the advice.

 

I would not say i have given up, i have 3 good top loaders on hand when i play redbook, and 90% of my listening is analog anyway. The Oppo is good for burning in cables too, sometimes i leave it running on repeat for days. But i will try a LPS, it will probably improve the sound from Netflix too. Thanks you for the advice.

It will improve both audio and video from the Oppo, including if it is only used as a digital transport.

 

If you are looking at the market as a whole, I would say yes the days of a transport are over. Sure you will have some hardcore audiophiles who will use a transport just like you have some who have reel to reel decks.

 

If you are looking at the market as a whole, I would say yes the days of a transport are over. Sure you will have some hardcore audiophiles who will use a transport just like you have some who have reel to reel decks.

Just a new transport, not expensive and quite promising:

https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/denafrips6/

Matt

 

From what I have read and experienced, the best sounding CD (only) transports were the old Philips swing arms from the 80's and 90's.

Also in my experience, the transport can have as great (or greater) an impact as the DAC.

I never liked SACD, and am not into streaming, and actually went the other way, collecting first pressing CDs which I find (in most cases) to sound superior to later issues.

 

Just a new transport, not expensive and quite promising:

https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/denafrips6/

Matt

A good frd of mine has already placed an order on this Denafrips Avatar cdt, even though the HK dealer doesn't have a demo yet.

He will get the new Termiantor Plus dac this week too.

Maybe I shall post a short review about them on WBF after our audition gathering with friends.

 

Just a new transport, not expensive and quite promising:

https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/denafrips6/

Matt

That is very interesting Matt, because it has exactly the type of transport mechanism that I mentioned in my previous post.

 

Maybe I shall post a short review about them on WBF after our audition gathering with friends.

Please do, maybe then are you faster than Srajan

Matt

 

Please do, maybe then are you faster than Srajan
Matt

I don't think so.
But I can write only very simple English so everybody may understand easier.

 

IMHO, MSB Technology’s best sounding digital input is their Select or Reference transport with their proprietary asynchronous Pro ISL optical connection.

Ken

 

IMHO, MSB Technology’s best sounding digital input is their Select or Reference transport with their proprietary asynchronous Pro ISL optical connection.
Ken

My view too!

 

All I know is that I only spin CD/SACDs when I first purchase them and then when I rip them on my PC. After that it is all from my NAS or Qobuz.

I am actually researching moving to a DAC/Pre combo front end and selling my spinner.

 

I have also embraced the rip to NAS/PC of all of my CDs.

 

Ripping Bluray Audio and SACD's is still a multistep process using unusual hardware and/or software, requiring significantly more time and attention than ripping CD's or just playing the discs. Anyone can decide they don't care about the sound quality or the music available in those formats, but individuals (especially audiophiles) can rationalize anything that doesn't fit into their own idiosyncratic worldview.

 

Also in my experience, the transport can have as great (or greater) an impact as the DAC.

Agree, the transport or server is more important than the DAC.

Matt

 

I have also embraced the rip to NAS/PC of all of my CDs.

Quite the contrary for me, I am happy that there are HQ CD transports. I dislike ripping CDs.

Matt

 

Quite the contrary for me, I am happy that there are HQ CD transports. I dislike ripping CDs.

Matt

Nothing wrong with that. As long as you enjoy the music.